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Press Contact: Yvonne French (202) 707-9191

August 14, 1998

Columbus's "Book of Privileges" Added to Continuing Exhibition of American Treasures of the Library of Congress

Christopher Columbus's "Book of Privileges," a
collection of 36 original documents by which Queen Isabella
I of Castile and her husband, King Ferdinand of Aragon,
granted titles, revenues and power to the explorer and his
descendants, will be on view beginning Aug. 27 in "American
Treasures of the Library of Congress." This permanent,
rotating exhibition that features different significant
materials every three months, giving the public the
opportunity to experience the richness and diversity of the
Library's American historical collections.

"American Treasures continues to display more than 200
selections from the Library's incomparable collections
arranged in the manner of Thomas Jefferson's own library,
the seed from which the present Library of Congress grew,"
said Librarian of Congress James H. Billington.

The Codice Diplomatico Columbo-Americano (ca. 1502),
more commonly referred to as the "Columbus Book of
Privileges," will replace Thomas Jefferson's rough draft of
the Declaration of Independence as the centerpiece of the
exhibition in the "Top Treasures" exhibition case.

Accompanying items in the Top Treasures case through
Nov. 16 will be:

The first Latin translation of the report of Columbus's
discoveries published in 1493. It was this Latin
letter that spread the news of the voyage throughout
Europe.

A gold coin from the time of Queen Isabella I and
King Ferdinand.

A first edition of Christopher Columbus's biography
By his son, Ferdinand Columbus.

In addition, several other materials are being
introduced into the exhibition for the first time:

The first Hebrew grammar printed in America, which was
issued in 1735 for the "use of the students at Harvard
College in Cambridge."

An issue of the Millinery Trade Review that touted the
latest Parisian designs for U.S. hat manufacturers of
the late 19th century.

A young George Washington's copybook of 110 simple
"Rules of Civility & Decent Behaviour in Company
and Conversation."

Supreme Court Justice Smith Thompson's 1831 dissenting
opinion in the Cherokee Nation v. the State of Georgia
case in which the court ruled that the Cherokee Nation
had no right to sue in federal court to prevent their
removal from tribal lands.

J. Hector St. John de Crvecouer's manuscript for the
1782 literary classic Letters from an American Farmer.

This ongoing exhibition, with its selection of rare
books, music, manuscripts, maps, photographs, drawings,
audio clips and videotapes, gives visitors a firsthand look
at a cross section of the vast repository that has been
called "America's Memory." Highlights of the exhibition
include the contents of Abraham Lincoln's pockets on the
night of his assassination, early baseball cards and a
photograph of the Wright brothers' first flight taken at the
instant of takeoff. The exhibition is made possible by a
generous grant from the Xerox Foundation.

Highlight tours, or "Treasure-Talks," of noteworthy
objects on display in the exhibition are conducted by
curators from the Library's custodial divisions. These talks
are held on Wednesdays from 12 to 12:30 p.m. in the
Treasures Gallery. For a current schedule of Treasure-
Talks, consult the Library's World Wide Web site at http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/ex-talks.html.

The "American Treasures" exhibition is available on-
line at http://www.loc.gov. The on-line version of the exhibition
allows viewers to see 145 items from the exhibition and read
about their significance to United States history. Because
many items in the physical exhibition change every three
months, the site is a good way to see most of what has been
on display since the exhibition opened in May 1997. It also
allows those who can't come to Washington to view the
exhibition, and those who are planning a trip to familiarize
themselves with it in advance. The material provided on-line
can also be used by history teachers and researchers as
primary source material.

An audio tour featuring selections from the Library's
collection of sound recordings provides an array of
memories, many of them drawn from the early years of radio
and TV broadcasting archived in the Library's collections.
Listeners can hear both narration about and the actual
voices of presidents, poets and other famous figures,
including Theodore Roosevelt, Robert Frost and Woodrow
Wilson. The random-access audio device also features music,
including the voices of Beverly Sills and Jelly Roll Morton.
Visitors may rent the wand for $2.50.

Harry N. Abrams Inc. has published a companion volume
with an introduction by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Garry
Wills and a foreword by Librarian of Congress James H.
Billington. American Treasures in the Library of Congress:
Memory/Reason/Imagination ($39.95) is available in the
Library sales shops and wherever books are sold.

The exhibition is on the second level of the gloriously
restored, 100-year-old Thomas Jefferson Building, located at
First Street and Independence Ave. S.E. near the Capitol
South Metrorail station. Exhibition hours are 10 a.m. to
5 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The Library is closed on
Sundays and federal holidays. Both the building and the
exhibition are barrier-free and accessible to persons with
disabilities. Entrance is free.

Groups of 10 or more are requested to call the
Visitor Services Office at (202) 707-9779 to arrange a
tour. For recorded information about the exhibition,
call (202) 707-3834, (202) 707-6200 TTY.